Harrison High student arrested after handgun incident

Farmington Public Schools Superintendent Dr. George Heitsch said Friday that a Harrison High student “is with the proper authorities” after school administrators on Wednesday found an unloaded handgun in his backpack.

“On Wednesday, December 6, Harrison High School administration was notified that there was a possibility that a student was in possession of a weapon,” Heitsch said in a statement. “Administration, in cooperation with the Farmington Hills Police Department, acted quickly and recovered an unloaded handgun from a student backpack. No ammunition was found on site or on the student and no reports of threats have been brought to our attention.”

Heitsch stressed that Harrison is a “strong and successful” school and said the incident “does not define the students, staff, or overall community.”

In an email to parents, school principal James Anderson said administrators “worked closely with our Farmington Hills Police Department school liaison officers throughout the entire incident.” He reviewed the incident with school staff and spoke with students over the school’s public address system on Thursday.

“In my message I assured students we are addressing the current issue and further stressed the critical importance of talking to a trusted adult when there is a concern for safety,” he wrote.